Loading dock shelter



p 1970 s. L. CONGER 3,528,086

LOADING DOCK SHELTER I Filed. March 7 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 P 1970 G. L. CONGER LOADING DOCK SHELTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 7 1968 2727672507 v @ag i-(wger A. W

mfomeyy United States Patent Ofice Patented Sept. 8., 1970 US. Cl. 1355 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A collapsible fabric shelter includes a canvas cover having a top wall, two side walls and, in some cases, a bottom wall on a collapsible linkage interconnected on the opposite sides of a mounting frame for attachment about an opening to a building. The linkage includes a pair of U-shaped support members which are formed of interconnected pipe elements with the outer edges of the top and bottom walls of the canvas cover secured to the bases of the members. The side arms of the upper member extend angularly downwardly and inwardly toward the building and the side arms of the lower member extend angularly upwardly and inwardly toward the building. The inner ends of the upper and lower support members are pivotally secured to a separate trolley which includes wheels disposed with a vertical track. A weight member is provided on each side of the shelter opening and connected by a cable to the trolley to which the arms of the lower support member are secured. A further cable is looped over a pulley and connected to the top of the trolleys for the lower and upper support members. The force of the weight continuously pulls down On the lower member tending to force the lower end of the shelter outwardly and simultaneously exerts an upward force on the upper member tending to force the upper end of the shelter outwardly. As a result, the flexible enclosure is biased outwardly into the expanded position but may be readily retracted in whole or in part. A manually adjustable cable arrangement is provided for locking of the shelter between the minimum and maximum expanded position to thereby vary the opening if so desired or to lock the system in a collapsed position.

This invention relates to a loading dock shelter and particularly to an enclosure member for defining a shelter over a passageway between a building and a vehicle.

In the movement between a building such as a warehouse or other enclosure and a vehicle such as a truck, railroad freight car or the like, it is often desirable and highly advantageous to enclose the space therebetween to protect the merchandise and the personnel from adverse environmental conditions such as rain, dirt, wind or the like. A substantial number of different shelters of a fixed resilient construction or a collapsible fabric construction have been suggested. Generally, the latter type includes a collapsible linkage interconnected on the opposite sides of the opening into the building and forming a part of a supporting structure for a fabric canopy or cover having a top wall, two side walls and, in some cases, a bottom wall. The linkage is normally spring loaded to an expanded position which allows collapsing of the shelter to accommodate different spacings between the vehicle and the building structutre as well as retraction of the shelter to a storage position. The spring loading also provides a relatively snug fit to the side of the freight car or truck opening. Alternative constructions have employed scissors arms or a lazy tong linkage wherein the linkage tends to expand and thereby expand the shelter.

The present invention is particularly directed to a highly reliable and simplified weighted linkage for positioning of a collapsible shelter unit. In its broadest aspect, the present invention includes a generally U-shaped frame structure which is secured as the support for a flexible cover. The ends of the frame structure are slidably secured to the building and a weight is connected to exert a pull on the inner ends of the frame structure to urge the base portion outwardly to expand the shelter.

In accordance with a more specific aspect of the present invention, a pair of generally U-shaped support members are interconnected to the top and bottom portion of the shelter with the side arms of the upper member extending angularly downwardly and inwardly toward the building and the side arms of the lower assembly extending angularly upwardly and inwardly toward the building.

The flexible cover is secured to a mounting framework which is adapted to be attached to the building and the inner ends of the upper and lower support members are slidably attached to the framework. The inner ends of the upper and lower support members are each slidably mounted in a separate slide and trolley support extending vertically of the opening. A weight member is provided on each side of the opening and interconnected through a suitable cable and pulley arrangement to the ends of the corresponding two side arms. The force of the weight continuously pulls down on the lower member, tending to force the lower end of the shelter outwardly, and simultaneously exerts an upward force on the upper member, tending to force the upper end of the shelter outwardly. As a result, the flexible enclosure is biased outwardly into the expanded position but may be readily retracted in whole or in part.

A manually adjustable cable arrangement is provided for locking of the shelter between the minimum and maximum expanded position to thereby vary the opening if so desired or to lock the system in a collapsed position.

It has been found that the present invention provides a simple and reliable system for positioning of a flexible shelter cover with a minimum of initial expense and subsequent maintenance.

The drawings furnished herewith illustrate a preferred construction of the present invention in which the above advantages and features are clearly disclosed as well as others which will be clear from the following description.

Referring to the drawings and particularly:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a loading dock shelter with parts broken away to more clearly show the construction in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged exploded view of the slide and trolley structure shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view showing the shelter in a collapsed position; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective fragmentary view of an alternative construction of a shelter.

Referring to the drawing and particularly to FIG. 1 a dock shelter 1 constructed in accordance with the present invention is shown installed about a doorway 2 of a building 3. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, it is assumed that the building 3 is adjacent railroad tracks 4 and merchandise is transferred with respect to a railroad car, not shown.

Generally, the shelter 1 of the present invention includes an encircling fabric cover having a top wall 5 opposite side walls 6 and 7, a bottom wall and an encircling front wall 9. The cover is somewhat larger than the doorway 2 and is secured at the inner edge to the building on a mounting frame 10 to completely encircle the doorway. The fabric cover is biased to an expanded enclosing position, to define an enclosing shelter, by weighted lower and upper support members 11 and 12 which are connected to a pair of weights 13 and 14 in accordance with the present invention.

More particularly, the illustrated shelter 1 includes the mounting frame which may be formed as a rectangular wood frame adapted to be secured to the building by suitable bolts or the like and completely encircling the opening or the doorway. The inner edge of the cover side walls 5-8 are secured to the edge of the frame 10 by clamping strips 16 which are nailed or otherwise secured to the frame 10.

The lower support member 11 is generally a U-shaped element having a lower base portion 17 secured to the forward edge of the lower wall 8 of the fabric cover by extending through a loop 18 in the outer edge of the lower wall 8 and contiguous portion of front wall 9. Side arms 19 of the member 11 extend inwardly to the frame 10 with the inner ends slidably secured in respective slide and trolley units 20 and 21 on the opposite sides of frame 10.

The U-shaped support member 11 may be formed from a suitable piping having the base portion 17 and side arms 19 interconnected by threaded or slip coupling units 22.

The side arms 19 of the member 11 are of a length to locate the ends slightly above the center of the mounting frame 10 with the shelter in the fully expanded position as shown. The inner ends of the side arms 19 are similarly pivotally interconnected to trollies 23 of the corresponding units 20 and 21 by suitable pin connectors 24 to permit pivotal and sliding movement.

Each of the slide and trolley units 20 and 21 is similar ly constructed and only unit 20 is therefore shown in FIG. 2. Generally, the unit 2 0 includes an outer metal truck or support 25 of a generally U-shaped construction opening outwardly and having a front wall including a pair of laterally spaced reverse channel portions 26 and 27 defining a pair of wheel tracks. The truck or trolley 23 includes a central body having pairs of wheels 28 and 29 secured to the opposite ends thereof with the wheel spaced and mounted in the two wheel tracks 26 and 27.

Each arm 19 of the U-shaped support member 11 is connected by the pin connector 24 to a bifurcated support rod 30 on the body, which projects outwardly through the opening or slot defined by the two reverse channel portions 26 and 27. The pivot pin connector 24 and trolley 23 permit pivotal movement of the U-shaped support member 11 as well as vertical movement of the inner ends of arms 19.

As more clearly illustrated in FIG. 2, a cable 31 is connected to a hook 32 on the lower end of the trolley body and depends outwardly through the track 25.

The weight 13 is secured in any suitable manner as by a hook 33 to the lower end of the cable 31 and constitutes a biasing weight continuously acting on the trolley 23 to cause it to move downwardly and thereby expand the U- shaped member 11 for holding the cover in the illustrated position.

The upper member 12 and corresponding slide and trolley units 34 are constructed generally in the same manner as the member 11 and units 20 and 21 and corresponding elements are identified by similar primed numbers.

Thus, upper support member 12 is generally of a U- shaped construction and is secured to slide and trolley units 34 at its opposite ends. The upper support member 12 is somewhat narrower than the lower member 11 such that the arms 19 and 19 of the respective members move freely past each other. To fully support the upper wall 5 of the fabric cover, generally L-shaped extensions 35 are secured to the opposite ends of the base 17 and extend outwardly to the top corners of the fabric cover. The base 17 of member 12 is also similarly secured to the forward edge of the top wall 5 of the fabric cover or enclosure.

Referring particularly to FIG. 1, a connecting hook 36 is secured to the top of the body of the trolley 23 of unit 34. A cable 37 is interconnected to hook 36 and extends upwardly from the upper end of the trolley 23' about a pulley 38 which is secured to the mounting frame 10 and immediately above the trolley unit 20 and then downwardly into the slide and trolley unit 20 for the'lower member 11.

The weights 13 and 14 exert a continuous downward pull on the corresponding trolleys 23 of units 20 and 21 and thereby urge the upper end of arm 19 to the lowermost position. Through the cable 37, these same forces are applied as an upward pull on the ends of arms 19' of support member 12. As a result of the interconnection to the front portion of the top and bottom walls 5 and 8 the base portions 17 and 17 move outwardly in an essentially straight line motion to expand the walls 58 of the cover to define a rectangular enclosure, the outer face of which abuts the railroad car, or other vehicle, not shown. The weighted assembly positions the outer cover wall in resilient abutting engagement and permits any intermediate positioning of the cover.

Applicant has found that the direct weighted structure provides a very convenient, reliable and relatively inexpensive assembly for supporting and properly holding a fabric shelter for a loading dock and the like.

To allow collapse of the shelter structure against the wall of the building 3, a manually operated system is provided which is described as follows.

A pair of laterally spaced bottom ropes 39 and 40 of nylon or other suitable material are secured to the forward base 17 of the bottom U-shaped support member 11 within the flexible cover 8. Each rope 39 and 40 extends backwardly along the interior of the bottom wall 8 to a corresponding pulley 41 secured on the lower portion of the mounting frame 10 and laterally to a pair of conventional rope ties or supports 42. T-shaped supporting tabs 43 are secured to the inner central portion of the bottom wall 8 of the cover in alignment with the ropes 39 and 40 and are provided with an opening in the stem portion through which the corresponding rope extends. When the ropes 39 and 40 are pulled upwardly the support member 11 moves inwardly to collapse the lower portion of the shelter with the upper ends of the U-shaped member arms 19 moving upwardly within the tracks of units 20 and 21. The tabs 43 support the central portion of the bottom wall of the cover and form two adjacent folds 44 abutting the building wall.

A single rope 45 is similarl secured to the central top portion of the base 17' of the upper U-shaped support member 12. It extends backwardly through a pulley 46 then laterally to a corner pulley 47 and downwardly to a rope tie or support 48. When the rope 45 is pulled downwardly, the upper member 12 moves inwardly toward the warehouse with the lower ends of the arms 19' moving downwardly within the corresponding trolley units 34 to permit complete withdrawal of the unit into firm engagement with the wall.

Suitable securement straps, not shown, may be secured to the sides of frame 10 and extend over and around the sides of the shelter or cover to securely hold the shelter collapsed against the building.

When it is desired to release the shelter, it is merely necessary to release the ropes 39, 40 and 45 from the tie supports and the weights 13 and 14 automatically force the frame members 11 and 12 to move outwardly to the expanded positions.

An alternative embodiment of the invention in which only the upper portion of the cover member is supported on a pivoting U-shaped member is shown in FIG. 4.

Referring particularly to FIG. 4, the illustrated embodiment of the invention is more particularly directed to a shelter which is normally employed for a truck loading dock of a warehouse or the like. In this embodiment of the invention, the shelter includes an upper or top inverted U-shaped mounting frame 49 adapted to be secured to the warehouse wall and located within a gen erally inverted U-shaped flexible fabric type cover 50 over a doorway. The cover 50 has its inner periphery connected to the frame 49 as in the embodiment of FIG.

1 and includes a suitable front wall defining an opening generally corresponding to the back configuration of a truck.

In accordance with the present invention, the upper portion of the cover 50 is supported by a U-shaped support member 51 having a base 52 secured to the outer top corner of the cover 50. A relatively short arm 53 extends inwardly with the inner end pivotally interconnected to a slide and trolley unit 54 to establish a support essentially corresponding to that shown in the first embodiment. In FIG. 4, the weight 55 is interconnected to the unit 54 and thus the end of arm 53 by a cable 56 extending over a top pulley 57.

The lower end of the flexible cover 50 is supported by generally L-shaped resilient stabilizers 58 connected at the inner end to the mounting frame 49 with the outer leg. 59 extending laterally inwardly toward the opening. The stabilizer 58 may be a rubber or rubberlike material, a foam material which is preferably relatively dense to provide a self-supporting corner which is readily deflectable. The stabilizer may be built directly into the cover 50.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, a pair of coil springs '60 and 61 is disposed between the frame 49 and the resilient leg 59 to provide a further resilient support, if desired. The springs 60' and 61 may be eliminated if the stabilizer 58 is sufficiently selfsupporting or the additional stiffness of the spring is not desired. Further, alternatively the stabilizer 58 may be eliminated and the lower corners supported solely by one or more springs such as springs 60 and 61.

The present invention has been found to provide a very reliable weather protectant enclosure for the space between a building and a vehicle such as a truck, freight cars and the like. The shelter of the present invention which constructed for collapsing against the building is readily and simply positioned in the collapsed or extended position while maintaining a very reliable and long life mechanism for controlling the position of the shelter.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.

I claim:

1. In a collapsible shelter apparatus including a flexible cover supported by a collapsible framework and adapted to be secured to a wall, the improvement in the improvement in the framework comprising an upper inverted, rigid, U-shaped support having depending side arms extending inwardly and including means for coupling the support to the cover, sliding support means secured to opposite sides of the apparatus and pivotally connected to each of said arms, weight members secured one to each of said arms and including a connecting member extending over a support above the lower end of the arms with the weight members continuously exerting a gravity pull on said arms and urging the corresponding arm upwardly to extend the support and the upper portion of the flexible cover. A lower U-shaped support with the side arms crossing the side arms of the upper support, a second pair of sliding support means secured to opposite sides of the apparatus, and flexible connection means connecting the second arms to the corresponding first arms and to the corresponding weights to oppositely move the ends of the first and second arms.

2. In the collapsible shelter apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cover includes a bottom wall and having a pair of flexible cable means connected to the laterally spaced central portions of the lower support and to the lower support for forcing said shelter to a collapsed position, and sliding connections between said cable means and the bottom wall of the cover to support the bottom wall in the collapsed position.

3. In a collapsible shelter apparatus including a flexible cover supported by a collapsible framework and adapted to be secured to a wall, the improvement in the framework comprising an upper inverted, rigid, U-shaped support having depending side arms extending inwardly and including means for coupling the support to the cover, sliding support means secured to opposite sides of the apparatus and pivotally connected to each of said arms, weight members secured one to each of said arms and including a connecting member extended over a support above the lower end of the arms with the weight members continuously exerting a gravity pull on said arms and urging the correspond arm upwardly to extend the support and the upper portion of the flexible cover wherein said sliding support means includes a pair of tracks secured to opposite sides of the apparatus, vertically movable trolley members mounted one in each of said tracks and connected to a corresponding weight, a pivotal connector means secured to each of said trolley members and to the corresponding arm, and wherein a U-shaped support includes side arms crossing the side arms of the upper frame member, a pair of second tracks secured to opposite sides of the apparatus, and second vertically movable trolley members are mounted one each in each of said second tracks, and flexible link means connect the second trolley members to the corresponding first trolley members and said second trolley members to the corresponding weights.

4. In the collapsible apparatus of claim 3, wherein said cover includes a bottom wall and having a pair of flexiblecable means connected to the laterally spaced central portions of the lower support for forcing said frame member to a collapsed position, and sliding connections between said cable means and the bottom wall of the cover to support the bottom wall in the collapsed position.

5. In a collapsible shelter apparatus including a flexible cover supported by a collapsible framework and adapted to be secured to a wall, the improvement in the collapsible framework comprising an upper inverted rigid U-shaped support having depending side arms extending inwardly and including means for coupling the support to the cover, first sliding support means secured to opposite sides of the apparatus and pivotally connected to each of said arms, a lower support having side arms crossing the side arms of the upper support, a second pair of sliding support means secured to opposite sides of the apparatus adjacent the first sliding support means, weight means secured one to each of said depending side arms of the upper support and including a connecting member extended over a support above the lower end of the side arms of the upper support with the weight members continuously exerting a gravity pull on said arm and urging the corresponding arm upwardly to extend the upper support and the upper portion of the flexible cover, and flexible connection means connecting the side arms of the lower support to the corresponding side arms of the upper support and to the corresponding weights to oppositely move the ends of the interconnected side arms and to thereby extend the lower portion of the flexible cover simultaneously with the extension of the upper portion of the flexible cover.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,022,967 4/1912 Nelson .4 49-387 1,510,106 9/1924 Robb 49--387 2,892,463 6/ 1959 Frommelt -5 3,216,433 11/1965 DAzzo 1355 3,334,444 8/ 1967 Hargrove 49-3 87 3,322,132 5/1967 Rieder 1355 3,352,314 11/1967 Frommelt 135-5 3,060,519 10/ 1962 Francis 52-64 JOHN E. MURTAGH, Primary Examiner UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 0 Dated September 8, 1970 Inventor(9 GARY L. CONGER It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, Line 64, after "wall" insert ---8--;

Column 5, Line 35, cancel "which" and substitute ---when---;

Claim 1 Column 5, Line 47, cancel the phrase "the improvement in" (repetition) Claim 1 Column 5, Line 58, after "cover" cancel the period and substitute a comma Claim 1 Column 5, Line 58, cancel "A" and substitute --a-;

Claim 3 Column 6, Line 11 cancel "correspond" and substitute ---corresponding--.

SIGNED MW REAR w: 2 1% $EAL) Amen f mm 1:. sum, :8- Ammmg Off-161 commissioner of Patents FORM 90-1050 (10-69) USCOMM-DC scan-en \LS GOVERNIENY 'IINYIIIG OVHCE I96! 0-366-334 

